Saturday, September 17, 2005
The Null Federation of Malaysia
federalism is important to keep the "federation" together and end blatant disparities of east and west Malaysia
This is not meant to incite hate. All in good faith k?
As said, federalism in Malaysia is moot. If only we had (like US states) power over state level national guards. It's symptomatic. Just as city folks have no power over municipal leaders. Centralisation is too strong here. Had we the authority and the budget, illegal logging prevention would be the realm of the army under state supervision. The extra cost is well worth it, and it'll be much better than an idle army, with the added benefit of jungle exposure.
Now you may say that we should try to strive for integration instead of more state autonomy. Truth is that is a harder route to take. Even Germany with its hodgepodge of Germanic tribes descendants is a hard nation to keep together, despite the very close cultural affinity (Much closer that that of indigenious peoples of Sarawak, Sabah, the West Coast and the East Coast). Even Japan, an icon of cultural homogenity, grants huge powers to their prefectures. Integration is hard when there are 25++ ethnic groups (more, if you want to count the groups that seek to differentiate themselves officially) all wanting to be recognised as individual group. Assimilation is near impossible.
Anyway opposition parties should have made unilateral action in taking over state coffers when they had the chance, enact a mini state constitution and declare more independence from the feds. Altough illegal in the sense that it violates the federal constitution, it's morally correct as it is a decision of the direct representative of the residents.
Anyway I'll just dream. To semenanjung people, one method of NOT antagonising the easterners is to NOT ask this question on your first meeting with an easterner:
"korang datang sini naik flight?"
We hate that
This is not meant to incite hate. All in good faith k?
As said, federalism in Malaysia is moot. If only we had (like US states) power over state level national guards. It's symptomatic. Just as city folks have no power over municipal leaders. Centralisation is too strong here. Had we the authority and the budget, illegal logging prevention would be the realm of the army under state supervision. The extra cost is well worth it, and it'll be much better than an idle army, with the added benefit of jungle exposure.
Now you may say that we should try to strive for integration instead of more state autonomy. Truth is that is a harder route to take. Even Germany with its hodgepodge of Germanic tribes descendants is a hard nation to keep together, despite the very close cultural affinity (Much closer that that of indigenious peoples of Sarawak, Sabah, the West Coast and the East Coast). Even Japan, an icon of cultural homogenity, grants huge powers to their prefectures. Integration is hard when there are 25++ ethnic groups (more, if you want to count the groups that seek to differentiate themselves officially) all wanting to be recognised as individual group. Assimilation is near impossible.
Anyway opposition parties should have made unilateral action in taking over state coffers when they had the chance, enact a mini state constitution and declare more independence from the feds. Altough illegal in the sense that it violates the federal constitution, it's morally correct as it is a decision of the direct representative of the residents.
Anyway I'll just dream. To semenanjung people, one method of NOT antagonising the easterners is to NOT ask this question on your first meeting with an easterner:
"korang datang sini naik flight?"
We hate that
